In the county event center district, CEC, no building or premises shall be used nor shall any building, structure or property be hereafter erected, altered or utilized except for one or more of the following uses:
(1) 
Cowlitz County Fair;
(2) 
Special event sales such as, but not limited to, merchandise fairs and warehouse sales, Rotary and other clubs and organization fundraiser sales; provided, each merchandiser or organization is limited to a total of 60 days in any calendar year;
(3) 
Special service events such as, but not limited to, veterinary clinics, building and other industry weekends and bicycle safety; provided, that each promoter and/or organization is limited to a total of 60 days in any calendar year;
(4) 
Farmers' markets, flea markets and auctions; provided, that each activity does not exceed three days per week;
(5) 
Concerts, dances, tournaments, athletic and recreation events, exhibitions, plays, theater, conventions and religious assemblies, motor sports weekend events limited to no more than six events per year;
(6) 
Community meetings, seminars, and banquets;
(7) 
4-H, FFA, or similar organizational events, including, but not limited to, meetings, shows and training clinics. For educational purposes only, the activities of these organizations may include the year-round raising of poultry and/or rabbits. No roosters, peacocks or guinea fowl are allowed;
(8) 
Rodeo events, animal shows and competitions, and horse racing;
(9) 
Circus and carnival events;
(10) 
Caretaker's residence per LMC § 19.40.060;
(11) 
Governmental service offices; provided said offices are an agency of county government;
(12) 
For temporary relocation of persons and property in case of any emergency or disaster;
(13) 
Public athletic and recreation facilities;
(14) 
Horse boarding;
(15) 
Storage of county-owned boats, trailers, materials or equipment; provided said storage is within the confines of a building or fenced security area;
(16) 
Hotels, motels and recreational vehicle parks;
(17) 
Transitional housing;
(18) 
Permanent supportive housing, subject to standards set forth in Chapter 19.22 LMC;
(19) 
Emergency shelters, subject to standards set forth in LMC § 19.44.110;
(20) 
Emergency housing, subject to standards set forth in LMC § 19.44.110;
(21) 
Other uses similar to any of the uses listed in this section as determined by the appeal board of adjustment; and
(22) 
Wireless communication facilities as permitted in Chapter 16.75 LMC.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 2632 § 2, 1996; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013; Ord. 3333 § 7, 2016; Ord. 3450 § 6, 2021)
In the county event center district, CEC, no building shall be erected or altered in a manner to cause the building to be closer than 25 feet to a fronting or flanking street right-of-way except for construction of an entrance and/or ticket facility. No building shall be erected closer than 60 feet to any property zoned R-2 residential district.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013)
Every building erected or facility (including parking lots, overflow parking areas and storage areas) constructed which has a common boundary with a lot or plot which is the site for a residential unit shall provide, at the expense of the event center, a screen in the form of a fence, masonry wall or hedge, at least five feet in height, but not exceeding eight feet in height, designed to protect the peace, quiet and repose of the occupants of the adjoining residential units.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013)
Every permitted structure erected or enlarged used for the purposes of assemblage of persons after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall provide off-street parking facilities as required by Chapter 19.78 LMC, except such requirements shall not apply to overflow parking needed for high attendance events such as the Cowlitz County Fair.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013)
A caretaker residence shall be allowed for the purposes of security. The residence shall not be rented or occupied by any party not employed for the purpose of providing security for the fairgrounds.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013)
Signs which serve to identify and advertise the activities of the fairgrounds shall be permitted subject to the following requirements:
(1) 
Freestanding signs shall be limited to directional and informational type. One illuminated changeable copy type sign shall be permitted per street frontage except for Peardale Lane; provided said sign does not exceed 15 feet in height;
(2) 
No sign shall protrude beyond the highest point of the building to which it is affixed and shall not extend more than five feet from the wall of the building;
(3) 
All signs, with the exception of temporary signs for directional and informational purposes, shall be stationary and the support structure shall be of permanent construction and attractive in appearance;
(4) 
Except for changeable copy signs addressed in subsection (1) of this section, illuminated signs shall be of constant intensity and color; and
(5) 
Signs which restrict the view of adjoining properties or create confusion relative to interpretation of traffic signals shall not be permitted.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 2774, 2000; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013)
Prior to commencement of any use or activity identified in LMC § 19.40.010(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), (10) and (12), the fairgrounds manager or his designee shall advise each merchandiser, organization, and/or promoter to check with the city fire marshal for applicable permits and/or inspections. The fairgrounds manager or his designee shall advise the lessee by including the above statement in the lease form(s). It shall be the responsibility of the lessee to comply with applicable fire codes.
(Ord. 2149 § 1, 1983; Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013)
The use of a recreational vehicle park in the CEC district shall be limited so as to provide accommodations for events at the Cowlitz County Event Center or other community events. No recreational vehicle may occupy the park for more than 14 days in any one 30-day period. Except for the limitations given above, recreational vehicle parks are subject to the standards in Chapter 19.65 LMC and approval process given in Chapter 19.90 LMC.
(Ord. 3240 § 1, 2013; Ord. 3395 § 2, 2019)